New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-13
BAcCALAUREArE SERMON AT CORNELL.

run my. pR. LYMAN ABBOTT on THE DUTY OF
THE CULTURED CLASSES IN AMERICA.
ITuAcA. June II SpeciaD.-The baccalaureate ser
mon before the graduating class OF Cornell University
was preached here this afternoon by the Kew. Ut.
LYMAN Abbott Editor OF " The Christian Union"
The services were held in the ormory which was
crowded. DR.. Abbott took as bis subject The duty
of the educated classes in America from the text IN
Matthew K, 7: IA We go, preach, saying the Ming
Nom OF Heaven IL at hand
The tenth chapter OF Matthew" laid the preacher,
was Christ's baccaaureete sermon TO the gradu-
atng class OF the first Christian college. Like many
co leges until recent date II was both college ana
Theological seminary. Its graduates were all minis
fora Tia course was a short one At the end OF year
devoted 10 personal instruction OF His specially
chosen pupils Christ sent them out into the world To
pi each and 10 bring about the Kingdom oil Goo. FOR
the Interpretation OF this phrase we are not to go
hack 10 the old rabbDicsl writers, nor even to the
Old Testament Great spiritual teachers must use
the language of other men, but they always use 1t
with a larger meaning. We must look TO the resuit
of their ministry To interpret their words united
Italy il the true interpreter OF Savonaroa Protestant
Garmany of Luther. So Chr stendom IL the true IN
ternreter of Christie fayorite phrase, Kingdom OF
God IL il the kingdom OF humanity IL Is the UNI
and enamel OF the race the supremacy oil man
over nature and over hlmseif because OF tue glad
recoyuiton of the supremacy Of God and His law OF
liberty over all To preach this and to promote this
are the mission of all recipients OF the hghe Droa.
culture of our time. They are aypointei TO be tne
leaders of the people TOW ard this Kingdom OF right
eousness of truth of liberty. OF God The whole trend
of ,eientc xploraton and discovery, especially dur
ING the last hundred years. has been TO fulfil the ID
| vine promi-e to man Interpreted In the command,
Have dominion over the earth. The true end oil natu-
raj scence ia 10 give the soul astcry over the BODY
| the .pirtuai supremacy over the physical anu tho
| material The whole progress in government has boon
toward mans mastery over himself. toward the SUI,
nremacy of conscience in the individual aud 40 toward
| s.lf-qoyernment. The problems OF american me
| cannot be solved by the employment OF Old Wo"ld
methods BY resort to the constable and the army
The army and police necessary only because some
thing of the kin gdom OF the devil IL lett III society,
but IN the perfected kingdom OF God the ideal OF
Isaiah will be realized aud ont OF Zion shall 20 forth
the law Then We stall have social and industrial
organization to do by the all for the ALL what the In
diyidua cannot do well tor himself. Our rensious
institutons are yielding to the atmospheric influence
| of the age The Church IA becoming churoh not Oh
| creed but OF God aud humanity. In America above
all other lands are the forces nc work In tnis pro-
cess the men and OF culture are commissioned
70 be the leaders. To them America looks to be the
| architects of the Repuolc OF God The age needs
leaders who have faith and live In The presence
OF the eternal and inv sible. Only living fath In q
| living God. "a the lover and redeemer OF mankind.
can give the repose. hope, the courage the spirit
| uaI perception without which no man can be truly
leader In science In politics, In industry in education
IT, religion or in the work OF establishing tho Republic
| of God In the earth"